Growth Ultrasound at 39 Weeks?

Cbethanis · March 2011

Hey ladies! I haven't posted in a while, and for those of you who are now new Mommies, congratz! I'm still "cooking" but baby is measuring big (he was in the 88th percentile at 32 weeks). They are doing a growth ultrasound at 39 weeks to decide if he will be too big to go naturally. The doctor says he'll only schedule a c-section if he's measuring/predicted to be 10 lbs. which I'm fine with, however, it just seems to me that everyone is taking their time in discussing the c-section with me since it's a major possibility right now and I feel like it's going to be a last minute thing. Also, everyone else I've talked to had a final growth u/s at 37 or 38 weeks and they keep telling me 39 is pretty late. I really just want to know if the baby is as big as they think he is... will they let me go to my due date or schedule a c-section earlier?

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Did you have to have a C-Section due to the baby's size or go natural with a big baby and did they schedule it at your due date exactly? Is 39 weeks late for the u/s?

I think I'm just anxious because it's the last thing to really clarify or "do" before the baby gets here, but I'm still feeling really out of sorts with no answers/advice on the possibilities of labor from my doctor.

Thanks for any advice!

luvdv8 · March 2011

First, the reality is (despite what sooooo many drs seem to tell women) VERY few women actually gestate babies that they physically can't give birth to. We simply would not have made it very far as a species if we couldn't deliver the babies we carried! Unless your baby's head is too big to fit through your pelvic opening (something they can reasonably estimate through u/s) you can give birth to a baby of any weight- they head is the part that's of major concern and plenty of women struggle to push out 6lb-ers because they have HUGE heads.

So, chances are you could vaginally delivery your baby. Does your dr want to deliver a big baby? Do you? Does a potentially long labor with painful tearing sound better than a c-section? Lots of drs (and women) think so- and this is why a "big baby" has jumped up on the reasons for c-section list.

If a c-section is a possibility your dr should be doing more to keep you informed- but they may not want to discuss it until they know for sure that's the way they're going. That being said, if you decided to go with the c-section and there's no other health issues with you or baby, your dr should let you go until your due date.

Whazzatk · March 2011

Personally, I do not think that size is a reason for a CS. My first two were 9lb and 9lb 12oz. I delivered both naturally. My sister has a 3 week old baby that weighed 11lb 5oz at birth. It is possible and your body normally wont give you more than you can handle.

sweetstarbright · March 2011

I had a growth U/S by a specialist at 36 weeks and they told me that even that was too far along to get an accurate measurement of the babys size because they can't actually see everything due to shadows. There is no space for LO to go. I've also been told by a number of people that the growth U/S can be up to 2 pounds off in weight estimate.

mkrystalkay · March 2011

I had a CS with DD#1 because the growth ultrasound suggested she would be larger than 10lbs. My doctor pretty much scared me with the risks to baby if she could not get out

. So...I ended up with a csection and baby ended up weighing 8lbs 1oz. I really regret just agreeing to a csection without much questioning. Just know, those growth ultrasounds (especially ones this late in pregnancy) are rarely very accurate. That being said, you just do what makes you feel comfortable and safe. Good luck!

hmontty · March 2011

My baby is in the 90th percentile and hasn't dropped yet, so we're going for an U/S at 38 weeks, and then I guess the docs will talk C-section is she's "too big to fit in my pelvis," which seems to be the concern. IF I have to go down that route, I plan on not scheduling the section until 40 weeks -- if she's coming out that way, why bring her out early, because size will no longer matter? And if I go into natural labor before then, we can do an emergency section. Plus, I want to give her as much time to drop as possible.

I will be seeing an acupressurist this week to discuss other ways to get the baby to drop in the hope of avoiding the whole issue.

bella85 · March 2011

My LO has been right on track with everything and I haven't had any complications my entire pregnancy. I am having a growth u/s tomorrow. I'll be 39w 3d. My Dr didn't make it sound like this was an odd thing, to have an u/s this late. I hope this makes you feel a little bit better.

katekirschner · March 2011

My growth u/s will probably be at 38 weeks, but I am trying to vbac so they are very concerned with size.

my4pups · March 2011

My mom had me naturally and I was 10lbs 11oz

barcelonagirl · March 2011

i'm scheduled for a growth ultrasound monday at 39 weeks.

dr says she just wants to check his size, which is a little weird because he was in the 29th percentile at 34 weeks??? i'm going to ask her more about it once i have the procedure done.

i figure no use worrying if everything turns out fine.

Brooke81 · March 2011

I just had a 3rd growth ultrasound at 36 weeks. The baby was really to big and too engaged in my pelvis to get good measurements. Plus shadows from bones that are now pretty dense obssure the images. I would take any measurements that they gave me at 39 weeks with a HUGE grain of salt! I personally would be hesitant to make decissions based on those numbers.

Growth ultrasounds should be made at 28 to 32 weeks ideally but 34 weeks at the latest really to get good measurements. Even then there is a pretty large margin of error.

Want a personalized experience?

Growth Ultrasound at 39 Weeks?

Re: Growth Ultrasound at 39 Weeks?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards